CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 945, 17 May 1883, Page 2

CONCERT.

As we expected, the new Oddfellows' Hall was crowded last night, when the opening concert was given. Some time before the advertised hour for commencing, every seat in the place was filled, and the audience throughout testified their enjoyment by frequent applause. For some reason or other, no programmes were distributed, and the rather primitive expedient of a chairman, who announced each item, was resorted to. Mr J. Ivess, M.H.8., occupied the position referred to, and before the curtain rose, he came forward and delivered a short address, bearing upon Oddfelle wship in general, and the prospects of the Order in Ashburton in particular. He concluded with declaring the Hall open. The concert commenced with an overture played by the Orchestral Society, which was followed by the well-known ballad, “The Blind Girl to her Harp,” nicely given by Mrs Craighead, who was in excellent voice. This lady sang the valse, “ Oh, how delightful,” in the second part, and was loudly applauded. Mr Harrison’s rendering of “ Th i Stirrup Cup” and, later on, “ A Father’s Love,” was effective, and Mr Horace Gates’s comic songs were so heartily applauded that the singer was forced to comply with an encore whenever he appeared. Mr Higgins's “Alice, where art thou ?” was fairly successful, although this song is beginning to get a little hackneyed at our local concerts, but Mr Simpson’s two contributions cannot be characterised as brilliant efforts, as he managed to pitch his voice into a different key to the accompaniment. Two gentlemen from Bakaia, created much merriment as the two Gen d’armes, owing probably to their eccentric costume rather than to any special histronie ability they displayed. But the principal feature of the concert was the appearance of Miss Amy Horton, who had kindly volunteered her services on this occasion, Often as the songs she gave have been heard, the clever little actress rendered them with such spirit that the people enjoyed them as much as if they were listening to them for the first tims. The audience were rather exigeant in the way of oncores, but Miss Horton responded heartily, and she sang no less than six songs, the familiar “ La-de-dah ” being given by special request. Miss Gates accompanied the singers throughout. The concert (was followed by a ball, in which more than fifty couples took part, and dancing kept up for some hours.